The Best Cookware Sets, Tested By Allrecipes

Our Top Pick

All-Clad D3 7-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set

$498 at Amazon

We want you to buy cookware that'll last for decades and the unbelievable performance and durability of the All-Clad d3 cookware line make it truly some of the best. It's fully clad with three layers of material so it heats evenly and retains that heat. As for durability, we’ve tried to damage the d3 cookware multiple times now and it’s always passed those tests with flying colors (just don’t put them in the dishwasher).

Allstar Jenna Urben felt this set included the essential pieces for any household, and that the larger sizes are great for anyone who likes to cook often. Each piece had a nice heft, with the frying pan especially feeling great in her hand. We also recommend the 10-piece set if you need a small saucepan and a small frying pan. One downside is the handles. If you find them awkward, as some do, try grabbing the pan with your palm facing up or using a kitchen towel as a buffer.

Allstar Amanda Scarlati previously enjoyed the incredible performance of the 5-layer All-Clad's d5 cookware when she tested it in her kitchen. She found its handles awkward and uncomfortable, but it's a minor inconvenience for stellar cookware.

The Details: 7 pieces; hand-wash recommended; oven-safe to 600°F; induction-compatible

Best Ceramic

Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set

$395 at Amazon $395 at The Container Store View on Carawayhome.com

You've probably seen Caraway cookware on your favorite Instagram influencer's stove. It has made a name for itself not just for how stunning the cookware looks, but for its overall superior design, which our own Melanie Fincher approves of. But Allstar Frances Smith absolutely loved the Caraway cookware, so much so that she's replacing some of her older cookware with new pieces from Caraway.

Almost every facet of this set seems to be designed with usability in mind, from the pan's sloped sides—that are perfect for sliding an egg out of all the way—to the notches under the handles to alert you of how far down you can go before it gets too hot. We noticed the pans felt thick (in a good way), which led to excellent heat control. This also allows for slower and more controlled heating, which was great for subtle searing and avoiding scorched food. It cooked super evenly and went seamlessly from the range to the oven.

Frances raved about the cookware performance, but she also touched upon the sizes. “There was plenty of space without having to worry about the food spilling while stirring or any boiling over,” she says. They were also super simple to clean afterward.

Caraway is lauded for its extreme nonstick, and we found that it lives up to the hype. Our fried eggs didn't break and easily moved along the slick surface. This also made it incredibly easy to clean. We did, however, have to lug out one of the big saute pans since there's no small pan in this set. And, as Fincher notes, the interior of this can get dingy from stains. You'll have to do an extra deep clean now and then to keep it looking great for your feed.

The Details: Aluminum and stainless base with ceramic coating; 9 pieces; hand-wash only; oven-safe to 550°F

Best Nonstick

Ninja Foodi NeverStick Cookware Set

$250 at Amazon $250 at Wayfair

Many types of nonstick pans don't perform well at high heat and aren't oven-safe at all, but that's not the case with this set. It's oven-safe up to 500°F, so you can get that crispy exterior combined with the easy cleanup of nonstick. Best of all, this cookware looks good while doing it. Allstar Jenny Aleman calls it "an absolute showstopper" and we agree.

Jenny was impressed by every aspect of this set. The heavy-gauge aluminum base transferred heat evenly, which meant Jenny never encountered a hot spot, even when sauteing and cooking rice. The tight-fitting lid kept moisture in, while also allowing her to monitor what was happening inside the saucepan. Even searing a T-bone steak was effortless! She got a great sear and didn't have to break a sweat while cleaning up.

Jenny felt this is a great set for just about everyone. “It's ideal for those looking to expand their culinary skills and broaden their cooking experience,” she says. The only downside? You might want to also pick up a good Dutch oven for your larger recipes.

The Details: Aluminum with nonstick coating and magnetic base; 8 pieces; dishwasher-safe; oven-safe to 500°F

Best Budget

Calphalon Classic 10-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set

Orig. $240 $200 at Amazon $200 at Walmart $200 at Macy's

This comprehensive set of great Calphalon cookware dazzled Jenna when she put it to the test in her kitchen. First, it has everything you could need: two sizes of frying pan, two saucepans, a saute pan, and a stockpot. The handles felt comfortable—not something you can always be assured of with inexpensive cookware—and the finish isn't too shabby either.

More importantly, this cookware performs excellently. Jenna used the set to pull together a pasta dinner. The sauce simmered beautifully with no scorching, the stockpot maintained a rapid boil after adding the pasta, and saute pan could handle all the sauce plus all the homemade meatballs. She even enjoyed the measurement markings on the interior of the pots, which helped her take out the usual guesswork.

We like that this cookware maintained heat well even though there's only an aluminum disc bonded to the bottom between layers of stainless steel. Another aspect to keep in mind is that the cookware is only oven-safe to 450°F.

The Details: 10 pieces; dishwasher-safe; oven-safe to 450°F; induction-compatible

Best Starter Set

Cuisinart MultiClad Pro 12 Piece Stainless Cookware Set

$300 at Amazon $300 at Target $259 at Walmart

There's not enough room to list everything we love about this Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel Cookware Set. We love a good deal, and this 12-piece set from one of the best names in cookware is a steal.

One of the things we loved most was how well-designed the angles in this pan were. It seems small, but our rubber spatulas easily swept through the pan's edges, so there was no sticking. The curved sides made the cooking feel smoother.

When it came to the saucepan, the higher-than-usual sides were a surprising benefit since things splattered a lot less. The handles also felt thoughtfully designed since they're more elevated and feel comfortable in proximity to the heat.

We were floored by how fast this pan heated up, and not only that—it stayed evenly hot. This is likely due to the aluminum core. Unfortunately, there is such a thing as a pan that's too hot. We noticed some troubling smoking, and at high heat, our food started to stick significantly, which can quickly lead to burning.

The Details: Stainless steel with aluminum core; 12 pieces; dishwasher-safe; oven-safe to 550°F

Best Cast Iron

Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron 5-Piece Set

Orig. $150 $100 at Amazon $99 at Walmart $150 at Sur La Table

Lodge is one of the best names in cast-iron cookware and this 5-piece set is everything you need to deck out your kitchen in cast iron. Cast iron is unbelievably durable with pans passed down through generations, and with this set, you're sure to contribute to its legacy.

Allstar Lisa Lynn Backus is one to know. She's been thrifting secondhand cast-iron for years, so she was the right person to test this out for us. First off, it's the best of the best pieces to have. “The Lodge set had all my favorite sizes of pans and Dutch oven for a starter set,” she says. While heavy, it heated evenly and maintained heat well, as cast iron should. She tested each piece, from using the griddle for fried eggs and seared chicken thighs, to throwing together Chef John's potato leek soup in the Dutch oven.

If this is your first cast iron, there is some maintenance to know. To sustain the surface of your pan and build up that nonstick surface, you'll have to season it periodically. You'll also have to be careful when cleaning.

The Details: Cast iron; 5 pieces; hand-wash only; oven-safe to 650°F

Best Copper

Williams Sonoma Thermo-Clad Cookware Set

$1,500 at Williams-Sonoma

We know the price is steep, but any copper cookware worth its salt is going to be an investment. After thorough testing, we stand behind this 10-piece set from Williams Sonoma. The cookware was made in collaboration with Ruffoni, a renowned Italian coppersmith, and features 18/10 stainless steel interiors, lids, and handles (most, if not all, copper cookware will have an interior made of a more durable metal).

As one should expect with copper cookware, this set is incredibly efficient at heating, with a nice fond developing on the interior. We found each piece to be exceptionally spacious for the home cook. We could've fit up to three chicken breasts in the 4.5-quart saute pan without any crowding and the 8-quart stockpot has a great width (and is shockingly the most lightweight piece in the set).

No matter how much was in any piece, they remained well-balanced and easy to carry around. The downsides are the handles might be a bit too heavy for some and you'll need to regularly maintain the exterior.

The Details: Copper with 18/10 stainless steel; 10 pieces; hand-wash only; oven-safe to 450°F